Trends in Radiation Practices for Female Ocular Oncologists in North America: A Collaborative Study of the International Society of Ocular Oncology

Sona N. Shah; Kaitlin Kogachi; Zelia M. Correa; Amy C. Schefler; Mary E. Aronow; Sonia A. Callejo; Colleen M. Cebulla; Shelley Day-Ghafoori; Jasmine H. Francis; Sara Lally; Tara A. McCannel; Katherine E. Paton; Isabella T. Phan; Renelle Pointdujour-Lim; Aparna Ramasubramanian; Pamela Rath; Carol L. Shields; Alison H. Skalet; Jill R. Wells; Richard L. Jennelle; Jesse L. Berry

doi:10.1159/000489219

Trends in Radiation Practices for Female Ocular Oncologists in North America: A Collaborative Study of the International Society of Ocular Oncology

Sona N. Shah, Kaitlin Kogachi, Zelia M. Correa, Amy C. Schefler, Mary E. Aronow, Sonia A. Callejo, Colleen M. Cebulla, Shelley Day-Ghafoori, Jasmine H. Francis, Sara Lally, Tara A. McCannel, Katherine E. Paton, Isabella T. Phan, Renelle Pointdujour-Lim, Aparna Ramasubramanian, Pamela Rath, Carol L. Shields, Alison H. Skalet, Jill R. Wells, Richard L. JennelleJesse L. Berry

School of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the known radiation exposure, attitudes, and consequent risk modifications among female ocular oncologists in North America who routinely administer radioactive plaque brachytherapy treatment and are members of the International Society of Ocular Oncology. Methods: Nineteen female ocular oncologists completed an anonymous 17-question radiation exposure survey. Results: Eleven of the participants chose to routinely wear lead protection during surgery; 8 did not. Fifteen of 19 participants reported using an unloaded "nonactive" template to prepare for plaque implantation. During pregnancy, 11 of 13 participants continued to perform plaque brachytherapy. Eight of these 11 undertook measures to decrease radiation exposure self-reported as lead wear and other. The average reported anxiety regarding fertility was 2.1 (SD, 2.2) on a scale from 1 to 10. Conclusion: This study corroborates prior literature that surgeons' exposure to radiation during plaque brachytherapy is minimal. Nonetheless, there remains some anxiety regarding exposure risk to women, due to potential effects on fertility and fetal health. We found variability in exposure monitoring, required training, and precautions during pregnancy amongst this group of surgeons. Improved education and clearer pregnancy guidelines may equip female ocular oncologists with optimal knowledge regarding risk of radiation exposure.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	54-59
Number of pages	6
Journal	Ocular Oncology and Pathology
Volume	5
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1159/000489219
State	Published - Jan 1 2019

Keywords

Choroidal neoplasms
Female surgeons
Melanoma
Plaque brachytherapy
Radiation exposure
Women surgeons

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Nursing

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10.1159/000489219

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Shah, S. N., Kogachi, K., Correa, Z. M., Schefler, A. C., Aronow, M. E., Callejo, S. A., Cebulla, C. M., Day-Ghafoori, S., Francis, J. H., Lally, S., McCannel, T. A., Paton, K. E., Phan, I. T., Pointdujour-Lim, R., Ramasubramanian, A., Rath, P., Shields, C. L., Skalet, A. H., Wells, J. R., ... Berry, J. L. (2019). Trends in Radiation Practices for Female Ocular Oncologists in North America: A Collaborative Study of the International Society of Ocular Oncology. Ocular Oncology and Pathology, 5(1), 54-59. https://doi.org/10.1159/000489219

Shah, SN, Kogachi, K, Correa, ZM, Schefler, AC, Aronow, ME, Callejo, SA, Cebulla, CM, Day-Ghafoori, S, Francis, JH, Lally, S, McCannel, TA, Paton, KE, Phan, IT, Pointdujour-Lim, R, Ramasubramanian, A, Rath, P, Shields, CL, Skalet, AH, Wells, JR, Jennelle, RL & Berry, JL 2019, 'Trends in Radiation Practices for Female Ocular Oncologists in North America: A Collaborative Study of the International Society of Ocular Oncology', Ocular Oncology and Pathology, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 54-59. https://doi.org/10.1159/000489219

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title = "Trends in Radiation Practices for Female Ocular Oncologists in North America: A Collaborative Study of the International Society of Ocular Oncology",

abstract = "Background: The aim of this study was to determine the known radiation exposure, attitudes, and consequent risk modifications among female ocular oncologists in North America who routinely administer radioactive plaque brachytherapy treatment and are members of the International Society of Ocular Oncology. Methods: Nineteen female ocular oncologists completed an anonymous 17-question radiation exposure survey. Results: Eleven of the participants chose to routinely wear lead protection during surgery; 8 did not. Fifteen of 19 participants reported using an unloaded {"}nonactive{"} template to prepare for plaque implantation. During pregnancy, 11 of 13 participants continued to perform plaque brachytherapy. Eight of these 11 undertook measures to decrease radiation exposure self-reported as lead wear and other. The average reported anxiety regarding fertility was 2.1 (SD, 2.2) on a scale from 1 to 10. Conclusion: This study corroborates prior literature that surgeons' exposure to radiation during plaque brachytherapy is minimal. Nonetheless, there remains some anxiety regarding exposure risk to women, due to potential effects on fertility and fetal health. We found variability in exposure monitoring, required training, and precautions during pregnancy amongst this group of surgeons. Improved education and clearer pregnancy guidelines may equip female ocular oncologists with optimal knowledge regarding risk of radiation exposure.",

keywords = "Choroidal neoplasms, Female surgeons, Melanoma, Plaque brachytherapy, Radiation exposure, Women surgeons",

author = "Shah, {Sona N.} and Kaitlin Kogachi and Correa, {Zelia M.} and Schefler, {Amy C.} and Aronow, {Mary E.} and Callejo, {Sonia A.} and Cebulla, {Colleen M.} and Shelley Day-Ghafoori and Francis, {Jasmine H.} and Sara Lally and McCannel, {Tara A.} and Paton, {Katherine E.} and Phan, {Isabella T.} and Renelle Pointdujour-Lim and Aparna Ramasubramanian and Pamela Rath and Shields, {Carol L.} and Skalet, {Alison H.} and Wells, {Jill R.} and Jennelle, {Richard L.} and Berry, {Jesse L.}",

year = "2019",

month = jan,

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doi = "10.1159/000489219",

language = "English (US)",

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T1 - Trends in Radiation Practices for Female Ocular Oncologists in North America

T2 - A Collaborative Study of the International Society of Ocular Oncology

AU - Shah, Sona N.

AU - Kogachi, Kaitlin

AU - Correa, Zelia M.

AU - Schefler, Amy C.

AU - Aronow, Mary E.

AU - Callejo, Sonia A.

AU - Cebulla, Colleen M.

AU - Day-Ghafoori, Shelley

AU - Francis, Jasmine H.

AU - Lally, Sara

AU - McCannel, Tara A.

AU - Paton, Katherine E.

AU - Phan, Isabella T.

AU - Pointdujour-Lim, Renelle

AU - Ramasubramanian, Aparna

AU - Rath, Pamela

AU - Shields, Carol L.

AU - Skalet, Alison H.

AU - Wells, Jill R.

AU - Jennelle, Richard L.

AU - Berry, Jesse L.

PY - 2019/1/1

Y1 - 2019/1/1

N2 - Background: The aim of this study was to determine the known radiation exposure, attitudes, and consequent risk modifications among female ocular oncologists in North America who routinely administer radioactive plaque brachytherapy treatment and are members of the International Society of Ocular Oncology. Methods: Nineteen female ocular oncologists completed an anonymous 17-question radiation exposure survey. Results: Eleven of the participants chose to routinely wear lead protection during surgery; 8 did not. Fifteen of 19 participants reported using an unloaded "nonactive" template to prepare for plaque implantation. During pregnancy, 11 of 13 participants continued to perform plaque brachytherapy. Eight of these 11 undertook measures to decrease radiation exposure self-reported as lead wear and other. The average reported anxiety regarding fertility was 2.1 (SD, 2.2) on a scale from 1 to 10. Conclusion: This study corroborates prior literature that surgeons' exposure to radiation during plaque brachytherapy is minimal. Nonetheless, there remains some anxiety regarding exposure risk to women, due to potential effects on fertility and fetal health. We found variability in exposure monitoring, required training, and precautions during pregnancy amongst this group of surgeons. Improved education and clearer pregnancy guidelines may equip female ocular oncologists with optimal knowledge regarding risk of radiation exposure.

AB - Background: The aim of this study was to determine the known radiation exposure, attitudes, and consequent risk modifications among female ocular oncologists in North America who routinely administer radioactive plaque brachytherapy treatment and are members of the International Society of Ocular Oncology. Methods: Nineteen female ocular oncologists completed an anonymous 17-question radiation exposure survey. Results: Eleven of the participants chose to routinely wear lead protection during surgery; 8 did not. Fifteen of 19 participants reported using an unloaded "nonactive" template to prepare for plaque implantation. During pregnancy, 11 of 13 participants continued to perform plaque brachytherapy. Eight of these 11 undertook measures to decrease radiation exposure self-reported as lead wear and other. The average reported anxiety regarding fertility was 2.1 (SD, 2.2) on a scale from 1 to 10. Conclusion: This study corroborates prior literature that surgeons' exposure to radiation during plaque brachytherapy is minimal. Nonetheless, there remains some anxiety regarding exposure risk to women, due to potential effects on fertility and fetal health. We found variability in exposure monitoring, required training, and precautions during pregnancy amongst this group of surgeons. Improved education and clearer pregnancy guidelines may equip female ocular oncologists with optimal knowledge regarding risk of radiation exposure.

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KW - Female surgeons

KW - Melanoma

KW - Plaque brachytherapy

KW - Radiation exposure

KW - Women surgeons

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Trends in Radiation Practices for Female Ocular Oncologists in North America: A Collaborative Study of the International Society of Ocular Oncology

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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